Ultimate Guide to Recycled Vinyl Record Crafts

If you've tried making your own pottery bowls before and have flashbacks of horribly lumpy and lopsided clay pots, you might be intimidated by the thought of making your own vinyl bowl. Though they are easy to make, if you're still wary, don't fret. If you can't find one in a handmade crafts store in your hometown, the Internet is swimming with sites that offer ready-made recycled record bowls [sources: Eco Shoppe, Modern Artisans]. They might lack your handmade touch, but no one else will be the wiser.

Recycled Vinyl Record Bowls

To make a great craft with just a single vinyl record, look no further than a vinyl record bowl.

To make your own record bowl you will need a vinyl record, two oven mitts, a cookie sheet and an oven-safe-bowl approximately 9 inches (22.86 cm) across the top.

Begin by pre-heating your oven to 150 F (65 C ) [source: Leong]. Lay the record on the cookie sheet and place it in the oven for eight to 10 minutes. Once it's "cooked," the record will be hot enough to be malleable. However, when you take the record out of the oven, you will have to work quickly -- it will cool and harden in less than a minute.

Lay the heated record across the top of the bowl, making sure the center of the record is aligned with the bowl's center. Press down on the record, pushing it onto the bowl, to form it into the desired shape. If you do not get the result you want, put the record back in the oven and reheat it for another eight to 10 minutes and try the pressing process again. After you are finished, allow the bowl to cool completely.

Keep in mind that these bowls are intended to be decorative. They are not microwave or dishwasher safe!

If you are looking for a few more ways to accessorize yourself with vinyl, read on.

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